News for May 29, 2002Edited by Jeff Jones Giro d'Italia newsThe 15th stage of the Giro was supposed to be a quiet prelude to the two grand stages in the Dolomiti on Wednesday and Thursday. For the most part it was, with the rain falling throughout the stage subduing the peloton which was content to finish the stage with a bunch sprint, won by Mario Cipollini. However and incident very early in the stage caused a big furore after the finish, when Francesco Casagrande, fourth on GC and a big favourite for the overall, was disqualified from the race for causing Colombian rider John Fredy Garcia to crash when they were both disputing a category 3 mountain sprint. More information on that can be found here, but it means that the Giro has lost its third big name in controversial circumstances. Fassa Bortolo will continue the race now with six riders, and Wladimir Belli (12th on GC) as their team leader. It's worth recalling that Belli was ejected from the race for punching a fan last year, who happened to be a cousin of Gilberto Simoni's. Maybe there was actually more Sapone today than Acqua. Post-stage comments
Mario Cipollini (Acqua e Sapone, 1st stage) Cipollini was stung by criticism that his win in Conegliano was "easy" due to the absence of riders such as McEwen and Quaranta. "It can appear easy for people who do not know cycling. Schumacher at 250 km/h around a circuit, that seems so easy, the truth is that it's quite difficult. I am a little bitter at being criticised by people who allow themselves to judge because they have a microphone or a pen. If you are not happy, I can also go home." Cipollini also commented on some of the Giro contenders, such as Tyler Hamilton and Cadel Evans, who he called "Riders of great quality but who are not big personalities." On Casagrande: "He made an incorrect move. That did not please me and I told him." On his decision not to participate in the Tour (if he was ever asked again): "In the Giro, you can speak with the organizers. In the Tour de France, there is an organisers' dictatorship. I accepted it but now, with my experience, I will accept it no more. I do not speak for the public, the sprints are formidable. I respect those who think differently but, no doubt because I am Italian, I prefer to race the Giro".
Jens Heppner (Telekom) "There is very little chance that I will keep the maglia rosa in the next stage. I will maybe get over the first two climbs, but then there are two more... But, if the legs are good, I hope to finish high up in the classification in Milan. I believe that all those days in pink were well received in Germany. I've been told that a lot of people looked at the retransmission of the Giro after the F1 GP on Sunday. At first, I thought of keeping the pink jersey for two or three days. Then, everything unfolded well. I earned this jersey, I went with the breakaway to win it." Stage 15 full results
& report
Armstrong comments on the GiroLance Armstrong discussed Tyler Hamilton and the Giro d'Italia with Pier Bergonzi of La Gazzetta Dello Sport. Here are a few excerpts: On Tyler's Giro chances: "Tyler's great - I'm really happy for my friend. I know how much he deserves this. I know how much he's worked to ride a good Giro. And now I know he can win it. I don't want to push it, but I can already see him on the podium in Milano. He'll take the Maglia Rosa if he can ride his race. He has to be aggressive - his win in the time trial will transform Tyler." "I think and hope that in the Dolomiti, we'll see a Tyler that no one has ever seen. Now he knows he can win the Giro and he has to ride as a leader. He's a man who thinks a lot; he's very balanced and that's both his strength and weakness." "To win the Giro, Tyler has to force (the other riders') hand; he has to make a move like he did on Mont Ventoux when he won the Dauphine. He's got the legs and the head to win. He shouldn't be afraid, this is his big moment." On his friendship with Tyler: "We'll always be friends; we have a lot of mutual respect. We live in the same building in Gerona. Our wives are friends and sometimes we train together. Last year Tyler came to me when he got Riis's proposal and I thought it was a god move for him right away. I told him 'get a good salary and now you can make yourself into a (team) leader. Tyler is 30 and now he can see just how far he can go. I understood his choice (to leave USPS)." On Tyler the rider: "Tyler is one of the most together people I know I know in the sport of cycling. His self-control is amazing. Anything can happen and he stays calm. He doesn't say a lot; he doesn't waste words." On the Giro: "Right now, the whole thing is starting over. There are at least 10 riders who can still win. Let's see what Casagrande [note: the interview was conducted before today's stage], Frigo and Escartin can do in the mountains. And Evans? Evans is really looking strong. I don't want to miss the big stage - in the Dolomiti, anything can happen."
Lotto-Adecco to examine results of Vermaut testsFollowing the Giro d'Italia, the Lotto-Adeco team will examine the results of tests carried out on Stive Vermaut in relation to his potential career ending heart problem. Earlier this year, Vermaut had to stop competitive cycling on doctors advice. However, he received more positive advice when he was tested in America, and that gave him hope that he could return to racing. His team doctor De Neve said that they would take no risks with Vermaut. "Before we decide that Steve can return to the peloton, I will examine the rider myself," he said. Raas back in the driver's seatAfter a seven year absence, Jan Raas is making his return to the pro peloton in the Rabobank team manager's car. The last time Raas was in the driver's seat was in 1995 with Novell. Raas' first appointment will be with the team for the Tour of Luxembourg, which starts Thursday, May 30. The Rabobank team has two team managers: Adri van Houwelingen and Theo de Rooij. Sometimes they are replaced by Joop Zoetemelk and Frans Maassen. "Theo and Joop are in the Giro at the moment, Adri, Frans and Nico Verhoeven had something else to do," said Raas.
Jamie Drew fractures wristJamie Drew of iteamNova.com has been ruled out of the US Pro series and Tour de Beauce after fracturing his wrist in three places. Drew contested a kermis on Monday at Strombeek, near Brussels, where he was in the main breakaway of 25 riders. With 6 laps to go, Drew was unsure if he punctured or if he clipped a rider's pedal, but he slid out on a corner and put his hand out to stop himself. ,p> "It was just one of those things," he said. "The first aid people at the race thought I was fine but last night I wanted to be sure and went to the local hospital for an x-ray." The result of the x-ray was four weeks of plaster for Drew. He will be back in competition in early-July when the remainder of the team return from the USA.
11th Grande Boucle FéminineThe 11th Grande Boucle Féminine, the equivalent of the Tour de France for women, will take place from August 4-18 this year. Starting in 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) with two stages on Day 1, the race will travel to Brussels (Belgium) for the start of stage 2 which finishes in Valenciennes, (France). From then on it's all in French territory, finishing with an individual time trial in Paris on August 18. The race looks to be the biggest and the toughest yet, with a budget of 1.5 million euros and a number of stages over 150 kilometres. Stage 7 from Aix-les-Bains to Courchevel and Stage 8 from Courchevel to Vaujany in the Alpes will be particularly challenging, but there are also two individual time trials and one team time trial. Dutch cycling queen Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel will almost certainly be at the start: "I am delighted that the start takes place in Holland," said the 1992 and 1993 winner. "It passes so close to my place. That will give me additional motivation". Other challengers for the crown this year are Spaniard Joane Somarriba, winner of the past two editions, Fabiana Luperini (1995, 1996 and 1997 winner), Edita Puncinskaite (1998) and Diana Ziliute (1999). Approximately 133 riders will start from 25 different countries. It has not been confirmed yet whether Jeannie Longo (who has never won it) will race the Grande Boucle Féminine. The stages
39th Tour de l'AvenirThe parcours of the 39th Tour de l'Avenir (Tour of the Future) which takes place from September 5-14 was unveiled today in Saint-Gregoire (Ille-et-Vilaine). The race is restricted to riders under 25 and is considered one of the most important stage races for predicting future grand tour champions. Past winners include Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk, Greg Lemond, Charly Mottet, Miguel Indurain, Laurent Fignon and Angel Casero. More recent winners include Denis Menchov (2001), Iker Flores (2000), Unai Osa (1999) and Christophe Rinero (1998). The 10 stages of this year's edition include a time trial, four flat stages, four medium mountain stages and one high mountain stage. The latter is featured as stage 7 from Guéret to Super-Besse (Puy-de-Dôme) over 140 kilometres in the massif central, and will likely be a crucial stage in determining the winner. French cycling legend Bernard Hinault commented at the launch that it was a "...beautiful parcours. Not as hard as in previous years although the racers will make it hard between themselves, especially in the massif central with the finish in Super Besse...This is a parcours that suits a more complete rider, semi-rouleurs or semi-grimpeurs (climbers)." 22 teams of six riders will be selected by the organisers on July 31. The stages
Total: 1375.5 km |
|
January 2009 |
Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mont Ventoux Photo ©: Sirotti |
